PCN seals 400 pharmacies, patent medicine stores in Adamawa

By Ese Awhotu with agency report

The Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) yesterday said it has sealed 400 pharmacies and patent medicine stores in Adamawa for various offences.
The Director, Inspection and Monitoring of the council, Anthonia Aruya, who disclosed this at a press conference in Yola, said that the affected comprised 35 pharmacies and 365 patent medicine stores out of the 527 inspected by the PCN.
Her words; “A total of 400 premises made up of 35 unregistered pharmacies and 365 patent medicine stores were sealed for various of offenses, some of which include operating without registration with PCN, failure to renew premises licence, dispensing ethical products without supervision of a pharmacist, poor sanitary conditions, others.
“Ten facilities were issued compliance directives for offences that did not warrant sealing.”
According to Aruya, the PCN Enforcement Team that operated in Adamawa observed that many pharmaceutical premises commenced operations without fulfilling the minimum requirement for registration.
She said the enforcement exercise in Adamawa was part of efforts to “address the ugly trend and improve on quality service delivery.”
She added that, “The team has visited most local government areas within the state covering both towns and villages. Owners of unregistered facilities have been visiting the PCN, Adamawa office to regularise their registration status since the commencement of the exercise.”